Ditcher



A. NIELSEN June' 8, 1937.

DITCHER Filed Jan. 27, 1936 INVENTOR.

A VOPEW /V/Ld/V I ATTORNEY.

Patented June 8, 1937 UN TED stares rarest oFFIcE DITCHER I Andrew Nielsen, Brighton, 0010. Application January 27, 1936, Serial No. 61,031

16 Claims. (01. 97-198) I This invention relates to improvements in ditchers of the type employed in connection with irrigation and for other and similar uses.

In implements of the type to which this invention relates, the plow'or ditcher is removably secured to the lower end or shank of a-beam and frequently becomes loose, which causes trouble and delay; I

It is an object of this invention to produce a improved securing means for attaching the ditcher or plow to the shank of the beam in such a way that the connection will be positive and can be effected by tightening a single set screw.

Another object "of this invention is to produce a connection by means of which the plow can be tilted to any desired angle so as to adjust it for a given depth, and to secure themost desirable operation.

A further object of this invention isto produce a plow of such construction that an extension can be attached whenever very deep furrows or ditches are to be formed' The above and other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds areattained by means 'of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the ditcher or plow, and shows the shank of the beam in section, taken on line l--l, Figure 5;

Figure 2 is a section taken on-line 2-2, Figure 1, showing the means for attaching the plow to the beam, the mold-boards being indicated by dotted lines, the plow being tilted'downwardly;

Figure 3 is a view similar tothat shown in Figure 2 and shows the plow tilted upwardly;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the extension separated from the plow; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the extension in place on the plow. a

In the drawing, reference numeral 6 designates the shank or lower end of a beam. The shank is formed from'a rectangular steel bar. The plow or ditcher consists of a steel plate, bent along line I to form two angularly related wings or mold-boards BR. and 8L. A casting 9 is positioned in the angle between'the mold-boards and has angula-rly related wings MR and ML which are secured to the mold-boards by means of bolts ll. i

The casting has a rearwardly extending body l2 that is provided with a-rectangular opening I3,

for the receptionof the shank 6. The front wall of the opening has a rectangular groove l4, whose function will hereinafter appear. The rear wall of opening I3 is provided with a set screw !5, that in turn is provided with a lock nut l6. 7

The shank 6 is narrower than the length of opening I 3, and of the same thickness, as the width of the opening and is forced against: the

front wall'therecf by the action of the set screw, I

as indicated in Figure 5.

If the plow is to be tilted downwardly, in the manner indicated in Figure 4, a wedge H is inserted between the front edge of the shank and the corresponding wall of the opening, and'the parts clamped into position by the set screw Hi.

If the plow is to be tilted upwardly, in the manner shown in Figure 3, the wedge is reversed and the parts clamped in position by the set screw. The angular extent of the tilting is determined by the taper of the wedge.

The means shown and described for securing the plow to the shank is simple and the plow can be easily and quickly attached and removed. The construction described is also rigid and does not accidentally become loose as the lock nut I6 keeps the set screw from turning.

It is sometimes necessary to make the ditches quite deep, and in such cases it is desirable to add to' the plow an extension. The extension has been shown in perspectivein Figure 4, and consists of a plate of steel of isosceles triangle shape, bent along the perpendicular bisectorof the base so as to form two angular sides MR and I8L that will form upward extensions of the mold-boards. A rectangular bar I9 is positioned in the angle between the sides IBR and 18L and secured in place by welding. extends downwardly and can be inserted in the groove M in the manner shown in Figure 5. The extension, just described, keeps dirt from falling into the furrow or ditch when the plow cuts deep.

The amount of tilting is determined by the taper of the wedge H, and the wedge is formed of the proper taper. A crescent key can, of course, be substituted for the wedge, but the wedge, as shown, is believed to be-preferable as it positively determines the angle."

It is sometimes desirable to break up the soil at the bottom of the furrow or ditch so as to permit water to more readily penetrate, and for this purpose, the shank can be constructed in the manner shown in Figure 5, in which it has been designated by reference character 6a. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the shank projects below the bottom of the ditcher, and

is curved rearwardly. The front edge of the part below the ditcher is sharpened, as indicated by numeral 2|].

With the construction illustrated in Figure 5, a deep cut is made in the center of the furrow which facilitates the absorption of the water by the soil. The degree of curvature of the lower end of the shank can be selected so as to obtain the best operation and it is possible to have the shank straight.

In the preceding description of the invention, reference has been made throughout to the preferred construction. It will be readily understood that the shanks 6 or 6a may be of any suitable shape and section and the opening I 3 will be shaped in conformity thereto.

Likewise in describing the assembly of parts, reference has been made to bolting or welding. It is also apparent that any suitable means of fastening may be employed in place of the specific fastening means described and illustrated.

Further, it will be apparent that the shape of the extension may likewise be varied in accordance with usage requirements. The blade 20 on shank 6a is merely for purposes of illustration, and may be of any suitable construction. If desired, the ditcher may be mounted on the shank of a bull tong or any suitable rudder at any selective distance above the same, which loosens the dirt at the bottom of the ditch as the blades 8R and 8L excavate to form the ditch.

Changes and modifications may be availed of within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 1

l. A ditcher plow comprising two 'angularly related mold-boards, a body positioned in the angle between the mold-boards and rigidly secured to them, the body having a vertical oblong opening with its long side in the direction of the bisector of the angle between the mold-boards, the front wall of the opening having a vertical groove, and a vertical extension for the moldboards, comprising two angularly related plates,

inclined to form substantial coplanar vertical extensions of the mold-boards, a pin located in the apex of the angle between the plates and secured to them, said pin extending downwardly into the groove in the front wall of the oblong opening, a shank located in the oblong opening, and means for forcing the shank against the front wall of the opening to form the rear wall of the vertical recess.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1. in

which that portion of the pin, between the angularly related plates is positioned to contact with the front side of the shank and resist rearward motion of the extension.

3. As an article of manufacture, a removable extension for a ditcher plow, comprising two angularly related plates connected at the vertex of the angle, and a pin located in the angle between the plates and connected with both plates, the

pin projecting beyond the lower edge of the extension to form means for attaching the extension to a ditcher plow.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a body for use in making a connection between two angularly related mold-boards of a ditcher plow and the shank of a beam, said body having angularly related sides adapted to fit the space between angularly related mold-boards, the body having holes for the reception of bolts for securing in position, the body being also provided with a shank receiving opening positioned in the plane bisecting the angle between the sides, the front wall of the opening having a groove of less width than the opening for the reception of an extension attaching pin, and the rear wall having a threaded hole for the reception of a set screw.

5. A ditcher comprising in combination, a shank, a ditcher plow removably secured thereto, the shank projecting below the bottom of the plow and rearward of its cutting edge whereby a cut will be made in the soil in the bottom of a furrow to facilitate the absorption of water by the soil.

6. A ditcher comprising in combination, a shank, a ditcher plow removably secured thereto, the lower end of the shank projecting below the bottom of the plow and curving rearwardly, the convex front edge being sharpened whereby a cut will be formed in the bottom of the furrow to facilitate the absorption of water by the soil.

7. The combination with a ditcher plow, of a socket-element fixed to the plow and disposed between its blades, a supporting shank in the socket, a wedge in the socket bearing against a side of the shank for varying the inclination of the plow, and a set screw carried by the socketelement and bearing against the opposite side of the shank for holding the plow in selective positions thereon.

8. The combination with a ditcher plow, of a socket-element fixed to the plow and disposed between its blades, a supporting shank in the socket, a set screw carried by the socket-element and bearing against the shank for holding the socket-element thereon, and. means on the shank extending below and rearwardly of the cutting edge of the plow for loosening soil below the normal ditch bottom.

9. The combination with a ditcher plow, of a socket-element fixed to the plow and disposed between its blades, a supporting shank in the socket, a set screw carried by the socket-element and bearing against the shank for holding the socket-element thereon, the shank extending downwardly and rearwardly beneath the plow for loosening soil below the normal ditch bottom.

10. As an article of manufacture, an attachment for ditcher plows comprising, a body having portions ranging obliquely therefrom in a common plane at opposite sides of the same and adapted for connection with the blades of a ditcher plow, there being a socket in the body intermediate the oblique portions to receive a shank, the socket having its axis disposed substantially transverse to the common plane of the oblique portions, and a screw at an end of the socket movable along said axis to bear against the shank.

11. As an article of manufacture, an attachment for ditcher plows comprising, a body having portions ranging laterally therefrom at opposite sides of the same and adapted for connection with the blades of a ditcher plow, there being a shank-receiving socket in the body intermediate the lateral portions, having its axis extending at substantially a right angle to the respective planes of the lateral portions, and a screw at an end of the socket movable along said axis to bear against the shank.

12. The combination with a ditcher plow, of a socket-element fitted to the plow between its blades, and having a grooved opening, a supporting shank in the opening, an extension resting on the plow and having a projection in the groove in engagement with the shank, and a set screw on the socket-element and bearing against the shank for holding the shank and extension against movement relative to the socket-element.

13. A ditcher plow comprising plow blades having converging edges, a holder fixed to the blades between said edges and having a socket whose axis is in a line dividing the angle of convergence, the socket having an abutment at one end, a shank in the socket, and a set-screw entering the socket at the other end thereof cooperative with the abutment to hold the plow, through the medium of the holder, in fixed relation thereto.

14. A ditcher plow comprising plow blades having converging edges, a holder fixed to the blades between said edges, and having a socket whose axis is in a line dividing the angle of convergence, the socket having an abutment at one end, a shank in the socket, a wedge alongside of the shank, and a set-screw entering the socket at its opposite end and cooperating with the abutment to fix the shank and the wedge with relation to the holder.

15. A device for fixing a two-bladed ditcher plow relative to its shank, comprising a holder having means for its attachment to the blades and having a socket adapted to admit the shank, and provided with an abutment at one end, and a set-screw entering the socket at its opposite end and cooperating with the abutment to fix the holder relative to the shank.

16. A device for fixing a two-bladed ditcher plow relative to its shank, comprising a holder having converging wings for its attachment to the blades and having a socket adapted to admit the shank, and provided with an abutment at one end, and a set-screw entering the socket at its opposite end and cooperating with the abutment to fix the holder relative to the shank.

ANDREW NIELSEN. 

